Birmingham City Council elections: Lack of grocers among top concerns in District 9

Five challengers are seeking to unseat incumbent Councilman Roderick Royal in the race for Birmingham City Council District 9.

Leroy Bandy, William Barnes, David "Mississippi Town" Russell, Marcia B. Starks and James E. Williams will face Royal in the Aug. 25 city elections.

District 9 covers north and northwestern Birmingham, including all or part of the Ensley, Pratt and North Birmingham communities.

Bandy, 62, is a longtime neighborhood leader in Pratt City and former city councilman. Bandy says he's running because "people are telling me they are feeling left out" and want a better quality of life.

Barnes, 31, is making his second bid to represent District 9. In 2005, he lost to Royal.

Economic development in District 9 is one of his priorities, Barnes said. The situation has been neglected for years, with jobs gone, few places to shop and a lack of grocery stores and restaurants, he said.

Education is another top concern for Barnes. He said that, overall, the city doesn't do enough to support the school board and noted that schools have closed, with the possibility of more closings to come. Barnes said he wants to work with the school board to keep schools open or get new ones built.

Royal, 44, is the two-term incumbent seeking another four years on the council. He noted numerous improvements in the district since his election in 2001 and said, "We've actually come quite a distance in many areas I previously campaigned on."

"District 9 is the city's largest area for new home investment. With regards to capital projects, since I've been on the council, we've delivered on .¤.¤. annexation promise to Oak Ridge and Dolomite to provide sanitary sewers," he said. "I made sure money was in the 2002 bond issue to do the sewers. There were plans, but no funding" until then.

If elected to a third term, Royal said, he wants to continue to implement plans that neighborhoods have worked out, such as Hooper City's new street curbs and gutters. He also wants to continue construction of affordable housing along three blocks of 14th Court in Enon Ridge, and he wants to continue working on affordable housing plans for South Pratt, North Birmingham and Hooper City.

Russell, 58, said safety, city cleanliness and education are his top issues. Russell said he wants to encourage more people to get involved in Neighborhood Watch and to work more closely with police.

He also wants a mass clean up in District 9 and wants to start mandatory tutoring programs for children having trouble in school and a reward program for those who do well or behave.

Working to get a major grocery store chain in the district is a goal, as is improving education and public transit, with expanded routes and an improved bus fleet, she said.

Williams, 39, is making his first run for office. Dilapidated and abandoned houses in the district -- there are more than 450 of them -- is one of his top concerns because it affects overall property values, which are declining, Williams said.

One remedy, Williams said, is to establish an affordable housing program similar to Bethel Ensley Action Task in the district. BEAT is a nationally known, nonprofit organization that revitalized the Sandy Vista section of Ensley. That program could work throughout District 9, Williams said, and would boost property values and give families affordable housing options.

Williams also wants to bring some kind of industry to the district. He noted the site of the old Ensley Works off Alabama 269 could be developed.